Summary:

After announcing there would be a new album at the beginning of 2017, Shinedown have been busy writing material as well as extensively touring, and working on ideas for album number six. Bassist, Eric Bass, was enlisted to produce and mix the album ‘in-house’ and had also inputted a number of musical tracks for their latest studio album Attention Attention!

Formed 2001 by vocalist Brent Smith, the band has seen a few line up changes since 2007/8 but they seem to have settled, now keeping the same members : Zach Myers, lead guitar, Barry Kerch, drums and previously mentioned Eric Bass, bassist thus making up the America’s, alt, nu, metal, hard rockers Shinedown.

After the success of their previous album Threat to Survival (2015), which scored a massive four hit singles, Attention Attention has some big boots to fill!

Album opener and lead single off the album Devil cleverly includes The Entrance, which is not a first track but a well crafted intro compromising of clanking machinery, footsteps, and some skilfully timed door knocks that build the pace for the upsurge that takes you straight in to the second track Devil. Brent bellows ‘pick up the phone’ as the guitar and snare drum make for a crescendo of noise that swells in to the rest of the song and sets the tempo for the rest of the album.

Known for having a few anthemic songs under their belt; Attention Attention! and Kill Your Conscience have that familiar nu metal vibe, with synth keys and repeated lyrics and chorus’s you can chant along too. Pyro delivers a ballsy smashing entrance which reminds me of Iggy Pop’s I wanna be your dog, a shady, brisk pop rock number which towards the end of the track is reminiscent of Warrior Soul’s, Let’s get Wasted with its chugging guitar riffage. But if you’ve never heard of either before, then go ‘Google’ them.

Don’t be thinking Shinedown have lost their aptitude, cause there is a dark side to this album. The lyrics are bold and carry great weight, the variance and rapidity of the album increases and decreases as does the content, as this rock waltz unfolds. Without the skilful use of experimental sounds, distorted vocals and infamous keyboards, which add the extra fuel to tracks like Blacksoul, and Darkside, you wouldn’t have the band Shinedown have evolved in to.

Hardcore fans will probably appreciate the sounds on Evolve and motivational song Getup. Headingin a slightly Muse direction, with synth analogue vocals and deep synth bass effects The Human Radio clambers to a finale with its pitched rock chorus. Brilliant the final track on the album lives up to its title. ”Faster than a firefly’, exciting, fast paced and anthemic, this track is what personifies Shinedown’s brilliance on Attention Attention!

Released on 4th May 2018, the album is out and ready to buy now.

Shinedown are planning a UK tour later in the year but if you can’t wait that long you can catch them at Download Festival on Sunday 10th June. So get ya horns ready to rock out to some classic and new songs.